Everchanging [editing]

Chapter 12

"If the guards are after you, then there is no way you could walk out in the open. Even if it's day or night."

"So what do you suggest?"

"I may know someone who can help."

---

The Cantrells and I sat around a round, wooden table in the middle of the library. A moldy old map of the kingdom was spread across the table. A few thumbtacks littered across.

"Right. So we're here in The Border, marking the edge of Harlequinn Kingdom" Jacob traced his thumb over a scraggly pencil drawing of some jagged lines. Then he pointed to a red thumbtack. "Here's where we are now, right in between Oakwood forest and The Border."

"And" Lucas slid his finger over the map, through the drawing of the forest and through the drawing of the village all the way through the palace gates. He then picked up a freshly sharpened pencil and drew a stick figure of what was supposed to be me. He finished the drawing by adding a crown over my pencilly hair.

"Nice" I muttered sarcastically.

"Thanks" Lucas replied, beaming.

"So where are you supposed to go annyway?" Ann asked, pushing through.

I recalled what Simon said: Follow the sun to the end of the village, then pass two more, straight ahead. When you reach the end if the third village, turn right to the forest. Keep walking straight till you reach the first clearing. You will know it's the first by following the stream. You will know if you are on the right track if the trees begin to loose their color-then their leaves. Keep walking straight from the clearing. Follow the bats. Follow the traces of death. You will reach a waterfall, only that the water running from it is murky brown. Use your black diamond. It will show you the way.

Not helping.

"He said I have to pass through three villages lined up in a straight path-"

"Right here" Ann tapped the butt of her pencil through three houses, each house was labelled. I peered closer at the tiny writing. Woodridge, Rivermouth and Pinecrest. 

"Now Waverly, you obviously passed through Woodridge Village because that's the only way out of the palace. Lucky you, we have some relatives scattered all over Rivermouth and Pinecrest. Lucas can take you all the way to Rapid River but that's it. I'll call up my cousins to pick you up at the other side of the river."

"Okay" was all I could say. I just suck at directions that way-not that i'm the one about to admit it. "After that, I have to turn right from Pinecrest and into a forest."

Jacob smirked. "You want to go in there?"

"Where is there?" I asked.

Jacob laughed halfheartedly. "Thistlethorn Forest. It got it's name from all the prickly thorns growing around every tree in that forest. You'll never see the light of day."

I huffed. "I have powers."

"Yeah well," Lucas chuckled. "You can't command the trees to do anything."

"Shut up" I growled, blushing slightly. Why is this guy such a know-it-all?

"Annyway" Ann chirped. "So what's supposed to happen once you get into Thistlethorn Forest?"

Jacob and Lucas exchanged looks and smirked. "That's where the real adventure begins."

---

"Right. You ready?"

I nodded my head bravely, shouldering my slingbag. The wind gushed wildly today, the afternoon sun hidden behind the graying clouds, like a storm about to come up.

 "Be home before dinner!" Melissa warned, bidding us goodbye. Her unkempt brown hair and the skirt of her praisley patterned villager dress fluttering in the wind.

"I'll be home soon!" Lucas replied, giving his mother a quick peck on the cheek. That simple act made me miss my mother. Lucas turned around and we hurried into the shadows of the forest, wrapping our jackets close. 

Leaves and twigs. The wind carried them along, sailing through the air. Our feet crunched through the leaves and twigs in perfect harmony. Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Snap! Snap! Snap! Crunch! Snap! Crunch! Snap! Crunch! Snap! Snap! The woodcutter's soul trapped inside the tiny skull birdcage shimmered around to the beat. Even the wind seemed to sing along.

Lucas guided me through the trees, under low branches and over tree roots. "Hurry up!" He'd call once in a while, looking back to see if i'm still there.

The wind gradually switched to a gentle breeze just as we hurried out of the forest. I was about to leap forward into the light when Lucas grabbed me by the arm, holding me back.

My father's guards swarmed the place, the usual grimm looks plastered on their face like a plastic mask. On the guards' uniforms, our kingdom's crest-a scarlet macaw with it's wing spread in flight right in the middle of a badge shape. Around the bird, the badge was divided into four rectangles, each with diffrent patterns on them.

"How are we going to get through?" I asked worriedly, fear creeping up my voice.

"We are going through the back door."

"The back door?"

"Yeah" Lucas smiled excitedly, yanking me up and darting behind trees. I followed. 

"This is it" Lucas said, pointing to a wooden bridge built across the rushing river. It was cleverly hidden behind a willow tree planted just by the rocky bank of the river so when you crossed the bridge, you would be hidden from sight, right under the leaves of the willow tree. 

"Go" he urged, pushing me forward, then scratched his head. "So I guess this is goodbye?"

"I guess it is" I replied. I shouldered my bag once more and smiled at Lucas. "Thank you. For everything."

"My pleasure." Lucas said, beaming.

I began to walk across the bridge, the willow leaves began to cover me from sight. I felt like i've walked halfway-or possibly more-when I heard a rustling sound from behind me. I froze in the fear that the guards have found me. What if they have Lucas?

"Waverly?"

I exhaled deeply when I saw Lucas's face peeping through the willow leaves. "Yes?" I asked.

Lucas stepped closer to me. Then everything just sort of wizzed by. The only thing left was that feeling on my cheek. I touched it, unsure if what happened was even real. 

I can't explain in words what i felt at that moment. Everything just seemed so sudden. The only words I could put together were...well, i was speechless. But one thing's for sure.

Lucas Cantrell just kissed me.

And all I could feel was his retreating figure running out of the willow tree and the wind playing with my hair. Once again, I was alone.

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Hi Guys!

OMG so what do you guys think of this chapter? Yes? No? Something in between? Too sudden? well, it was supposed to be! Comments please! and votes...grey stars are boring(->)...let's make them orange, okay? okay. 

btw the contest in my previous chapter is still on for the other neighboring kingdoms! Wierd name for a kingdom? eh *shrugs* I was bored. and i needed to update. yay.

<3<3<3 Dory